On Monday, May 13, 2024, the first day of the 13th Gugur Gunung was successfully celebrated at the Margono Terrace, 1st floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Jawaisme Fest, a part of this event, attracted a diverse audience, including university students, INCULS students, FIB staff, and high school students visiting FIB UGM.
Jawaisme Fest is an exhibition of Javanese art, literature, and culture. Some of the cultural products displayed included Nusantara manuscripts, traditional Javanese everyday clothing from Yogyakarta, wayang kulit (shadow puppets), gamelan instruments, traditional customs and weton (Javanese astrological system), traditional games, and various other cultural items.
The Nusantara manuscripts on display included Javanese-script manuscripts, illustrated lontar manuscripts from Bali, and replicas of Batak manuscripts. Wayang kulit characters such as the Pandawa (Yudistira, Bima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sadewa) and Punakawan (Semar, Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong) welcomed the visitors. Some of the gamelan instruments displayed included the saron, kendhang ciblon, kethuk, kempul, and gong. Traditional games like yo-yos, othok-othok hammers, othok-othok boats, bekel, slingshots or plintheng, bas basan, tops, and various other games evoked a sense of nostalgia for the past. The Javanese customs showcased included life cycles from birth to death, and an introduction to weton, sparking visitors’ curiosity to learn more.
The diverse cultural products exhibited successfully piqued visitors’ interest. They showed enthusiasm through various questions posed to the booth attendants. Visitors were also given the opportunity to try out traditional games, handle and play wayang kulit, play gamelan instruments, view Nusantara manuscripts, and try their luck at a prize draw booth.
The excitement didn’t end there; Jawaisme Fest will continue on the second day of the 13th Gugur Gunung, Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM WIB. The second day promises to be even more special with a Jathilan dance drama titled “Turangga Sastra Nuswantara” performed by students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program. The Jathilan dance drama will be made even more captivating by the presence of Lala Atila, a famous campursari singer, who will perform traditional Javanese singing during the show.
Author: Haryo Untoro
